Added 10 October 2026
plaintive
/ˈpleɪntɪv/ adjective
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about plaintive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
Origin
From Middle English pleintif, plentyff, from Old French pleintif (“aggrieved, lamenting”) (whence modern French plaintif), from plainte (“lament, complaint”); see plaint. Doublet of plaintiff.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)